How to plant a forest in one year: these Karnataka govt school students show the way
With the help of an NGO called Saytrees, students from the Hennagara government high school planted 5,500 saplings a year ago using the Miyawaki plantation method.
Located in the Hennagara village of Karnataka, a government school celebrated the anniversary of planting 5,500 trees on World Earth Day on its premises. The trees were planted as saplings just a year ago by the students of this school with the help of Saytrees, a voluntary group.
The trees include almost 80 varieties of species: neem, jamun, silk, cotton, banyan, amla, peepal, guava, bamboo, and honge, to name a few. The saplings planted last year have now grown into 10ft tall trees, and the entire plantation now resembles a lush green forest.
Representational Image, source New Indian Express
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Speaking to New Indian Express, Durgesh Agrahare, Head of Partnership and Project at Saytrees, said,
We grew the forest through Miyawaki plantation method, which involves the plantation of native species of plants close to each other where saplings are placed randomly on the forest bed ensuring that no two similar varieties are adjacent to each other. Soil testing is done to provide organic nutrition to the soil. We add biomass in the soil and the soil is loosened up to a depth of one metre. The biomass like cocopeat, rice husk, cow dung, or anything locally available is mixed with the soil to create the forest bed. This creates a microclimate, which promotes healthy competition amongst the saplings leading to faster growth.
The forest on the school premises needs continuous maintenance and tending to. The trees are watered regularly by the students, and nutrients are added to help them grow healthy.
representational image, source Tree Plant for me
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They also deweed on a regular basis. Further, the teachers along with the Saytree volunteers, are involved in teaching students about different species of plants and how to maintain them, reports Edex Live.
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